Medal competition

The 50th anniversary of Decimal Day, or ‘D-Day’ as it became known, falls in February 2021 and, as part of this anniversary celebration, the Royal Mint Museum is hosting a medal design competition open to all undergraduate university students.

The anniversary falls on 15th February 2021 and designs for both the obverse and reverse of the medal are being commissioned.

Students are allowed a free hand to approach the design of the medal in whatever way they wish but it is hoped the advice set out below will provide useful direction.

The design brief outlines guidance on the theme, the technical and legal requirements and prize.

All the designs will be inspected by a judging panel comprising Dr Kevin Clancy, Director of the Royal Mint Museum, Gordon Summers, the Royal Mint Chief Engraver, and Stephen Raw, artist and lettering expert.

The winning artist will receive a prize of £750 and two copies of their medal, struck by the Royal Mint. Examples of the medal will also be retained by the Royal Mint Museum as part of the permanent collection.

Please see below for examples from the Royal Mint Museum’s extensive medal collection which may serve as inspiration for your design.